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Euro 2016: France-Germany semifinal in pictures

There was no shortage of vivid images, when France took on Germany in Marseilles. Here's our pictorial look back at Thursday's semifinal, which saw the hosts progress on to the final against Portugal. One thing was clear by the final whistle: this was very much France's night.

A battle between neighbors

French and German fans went into the clash knowing that the winner would surely be the favorites against outsiders Portugal in Sunday's final. The two countries don't have a massive football rivalry, and mood on and off the pitch was pretty friendly.

France with an aggressive start

If the Germans figured the match would take time to settle in, they were wrong. France piled on the pressure right from the opening whistle and generated a good look at the German goal after only six minutes. But Germany weathered the early storm.

Can proves his worth in Euro debut

With Sami Khedira out injured, Liverpool's Emre Can was pressed into service, and the 22-year-old responded. Not only did he firm up Germany's midfield, he booked the Mannschaft's first good chance with this vicious shot.

Lloris makes the big saves

France could well have fallen behind in the first half, were it not for their keeper. Manuel Neuer may enjoy a more stellar reputation, but Hugo Lloris was a rock in the French goal. Here, he defuses one potentially dangerous situation.

Schweinsteiger gets his hand dirty

Bastian Schweinsteiger, who won a battle to regain fitness before the match, became the tragic hero of the first half, when he handled the ball in injury time. It was a somewhat harsh decision. Antoine Griezmann was humorless from the spot, and France took a 1-0 lead into the dressing rooms.

Germany lose Boateng

Already without Mats Hummels, Germany also had to do without their other first-choice central defender for the final half-hour. Jerome Boateng limped off after what looked like a flare-up of his thigh injury. Shkodran Mustafi came on in his stead.

Griezmann strikes again

If there is one star that has shone most brightly at Euro 2016, it's Antoine Griezmann. The diminutive French forward is the tournament's leading scorer, and he was back at it in minute 72, poking home a ball Neuer had managed to parry, putting the host nation ahead 2-0.

Germany fail to get past Lloris

Germany had multiple opportunities to grab a lifeline as the minutes ticked down. But no matter what they did - shots, headers, free kicks - Hugo Lloris got in the way. Along with Griezmann, the French keeper was the man of the match.

The home team are the favorites

The French people may have been a bit hesitant to get behind the national team at the start of the tournament, but that's now all in the past. The host nation now have a chance to win their first major football title in sixteen years. They will go into Sunday's final against Portugal as the favorites - in both senses of the word.

There was no shortage of vivid images, when France took on Germany in Marseilles. Here's our pictorial look back at Thursday's semifinal, which saw the hosts progress on to the final against Portugal. One thing was clear by the final whistle: this was very much France's night.

A battle between neighbors

French and German fans went into the clash knowing that the winner would surely be the favorites against outsiders Portugal in Sunday's final. The two countries don't have a massive football rivalry, and mood on and off the pitch was pretty friendly.

France with an aggressive start

If the Germans figured the match would take time to settle in, they were wrong. France piled on the pressure right from the opening whistle and generated a good look at the German goal after only six minutes. But Germany weathered the early storm.

Can proves his worth in Euro debut

With Sami Khedira out injured, Liverpool's Emre Can was pressed into service, and the 22-year-old responded. Not only did he firm up Germany's midfield, he booked the Mannschaft's first good chance with this vicious shot.

Lloris makes the big saves

France could well have fallen behind in the first half, were it not for their keeper. Manuel Neuer may enjoy a more stellar reputation, but Hugo Lloris was a rock in the French goal. Here, he defuses one potentially dangerous situation.

Schweinsteiger gets his hand dirty

Bastian Schweinsteiger, who won a battle to regain fitness before the match, became the tragic hero of the first half, when he handled the ball in injury time. It was a somewhat harsh decision. Antoine Griezmann was humorless from the spot, and France took a 1-0 lead into the dressing rooms.

Germany lose Boateng

Already without Mats Hummels, Germany also had to do without their other first-choice central defender for the final half-hour. Jerome Boateng limped off after what looked like a flare-up of his thigh injury. Shkodran Mustafi came on in his stead.

Griezmann strikes again

If there is one star that has shone most brightly at Euro 2016, it's Antoine Griezmann. The diminutive French forward is the tournament's leading scorer, and he was back at it in minute 72, poking home a ball Neuer had managed to parry, putting the host nation ahead 2-0.

Germany fail to get past Lloris

Germany had multiple opportunities to grab a lifeline as the minutes ticked down. But no matter what they did - shots, headers, free kicks - Hugo Lloris got in the way. Along with Griezmann, the French keeper was the man of the match.

The home team are the favorites

The French people may have been a bit hesitant to get behind the national team at the start of the tournament, but that's now all in the past. The host nation now have a chance to win their first major football title in sixteen years. They will go into Sunday's final against Portugal as the favorites - in both senses of the word.